|
- News from the convent: Clothing
Day
- Why wear the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel?
- Projects in the convent: New
scapulars designed by the Sisters
NEWS FROM THE CONVENT: CLOTHING
DAY
 |
We are happy to share the
joyful news of the Reception of the Holy Habit of Mount
Carmel by one of our postulants on February 5, 2003.
Clothing Day is always a most joyous day, a truly family
day and, for the new Carmelite bride, a day of beginning
in earnest the life of consecration to Our Lord Jesus
Christ and His Church.
Since this is one of only two public ceremonies
during the Carmelite formation, many friends were with
us to celebrate, attending the Mass followed by the
Clothing ceremony. The Holy Habit is blessed by the
priest, who says a special prayer for each part of the
Habit: tunic, cincture or belt, scapular and mantle.
Each of these parts has its own significance, but the
overall message of the habit is one of detachment from
the world and attachment to Christ - dedication to the
evangelical counsels of obedience, chastity and
poverty...charity and simplicity of life. As St. Paul
says, "Put on the new man, created according to God in
holiness and justice of truth!"
Our new Sister joins us in praying for all our
friends and benefactors, who so generously support our
Carmel. And we ask you for your good prayers for
Sister's perseverance in this holy
vocation. |
WHY WEAR THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF
OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL?
 |
In the year 1251, in the
town of Aylesford in England, Our Lady appeared to St.
Simon Stock, a Carmelite. She handed him a brown woolen
scapular
and said, "Whosoever dies wearing this scapular shall
not suffer eternal fire." The Blessed Virgin Mary also
said, "Wear the scapular devoutly and perseveringly. It
is my garment. To be clothed in it means you are
continually thinking of me, and I in turn am always
thinking of you and helping you to secure eternal life."
Is this not enough reason to immediately start wearing
it? However, it is a sad fact that in our time the
majority of Catholics have forgotten about or ignore the
scapular.
If you would like to learn more about the scapular,
we now offer on our website a booklet called "Garment
of Grace". This little book tells stories of
miracles granted through the Scapular, its history, the
privleges attached to it, and it gives powerful and
beautiful testimony of the saints about this precious
sacramental. It also discusses the benefits that
non-Catholics can derive from wearing her garment of
grace. |
PROJECTS IN THE CONVENT: NEW
SCAPULARS DESIGNED BY THE SISTERS
 |
We recently took
on a special project in honor of Our Lady of Mount
Carmel. We designed a new Brown
Scapular having all the traditional, time-honored
symbols and message of this favored sacramental of Holy
Mother Church. Searching the textile industry for a
company to produce the washable woven labels was quite a
challenge. But the company we found worked with us with
interest and enthusiasm. In the end, several employees
asked to receive a finished scapular from us, wanting to
wear again what they remembered wearing as children. Our
Blessed Mother finds many ways to make sure her children
remain in (or return to) the Fold!
Click
here to see them or to obtain
one. |
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN
FUTURE EDITIONS OF OUR NEWSLETTER?
TELL A FRIEND!
|
© 2003 Sisters of Carmel. All rights reserved.
|
| |
E-mail this page to a friend